Legislature(2017 - 2018)

2017-05-03 House Journal

Full Journal pdf

2017-05-03                     House Journal                      Page 1303
                                                                                                                                
                               HOUSE JOURNAL                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                          ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                           THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                               FIRST SESSION                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Juneau, Alaska                   Wednesday                    May 3, 2017                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                          One Hundred Seventh Day                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker                                                                
Edgmon at 10:37 a.m.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Roll call showed 38 members present.  Representative Pruitt was                                                                 
absent and his presence was noted later.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that                                                                      
Representative Knopp be excused from a call of the House from today                                                             
to 9:30 p.m., May 7.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Representative Saddler.                                                             
Representative Westlake moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                              
invocation be spread on the journal.  There being no objection, it was                                                          
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     With the deepest respect for the religious beliefs of all                                                                  
     Alaskans, I offer the following prayer:                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Lord God, ruler of us all, I commend our state and its leaders                                                             
     to your care.  Bless this House and all who labor in it.  Grant                                                            
     us mindfulness of the sacred responsibility you have placed                                                                
     on us to be servants of the people.  Keep before us your                                                                   
     example of leadership:  how you showed worthiness to lead,                                                                 
     through willingness to serve, even to the point of washing the                                                             
     feet of your disciples.  Grant us the gifts required for                                                                   
     leadership:  the wisdom to make decisions that bring order                                                                 
     and justice to our society, the compassion to show empathy                                                                 

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     for the suffering and less fortunate, the discernment to focus                                                             
     on the essential and disregard the ephemeral, the zeal to apply                                                            
     our talents effectively to the challenges before us, and the                                                               
     humility to accept the limits of our ability to achieve heaven                                                             
     on earth. I pray: that you free us from selfishness, that you fill                                                         
     our hearts with compassion for our brothers and sisters, and                                                               
     that you restore and maintain our faith, so we can better serve                                                            
     your will.  I offer this prayer in the name of my Savior, Jesus                                                            
     Christ.  Amen.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Johnston.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                        CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                  
journal for the 105th and 106th legislative days be approved as                                                                 
certified by the Chief Clerk.  There being no objection, it was so                                                              
ordered.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                         MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SB 9                                                                                                                          
A message dated April 28 was read stating the Governor signed the                                                               
following bill and is transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to                                                         
the Lieutenant Governor's office for permanent filing:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 9(FIN)                                                                                              
     "An Act relating to military facility zones; and providing for an                                                          
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Chapter No. 4, SLA 2017                                                                                                    
     Effective Date:  April 29, 2017                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SB 46                                                                                                                         
A message dated April 30 was read stating the Governor signed the                                                               
following bill and is transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to                                                         
the Lieutenant Governor's office for permanent filing:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     SENATE BILL NO. 46                                                                                                         
     "An Act establishing October 25 of each year as African                                                                    
     American Soldiers' Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway                                                             
     Day."                                                                                                                      

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     Chapter No. 5, SLA 2017                                                                                                    
     Effective Date:  July 29, 2017                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                          MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
A message dated April 26 was read stating the Senate passed the                                                                 
following, and it is transmitted for consideration:                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                        FIRST READING AND REFERENCE                                                                          
                              OF SENATE BILLS                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB 103                                                                                                                        
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 103(FIN) by the Senate Finance                                                                           
Committee, entitled:                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing the Alaska education innovation grant                                                                 
     program; eliminating the Alaska education grant program; relating                                                          
     to the funding of and eligibility for the Alaska performance                                                               
     scholarship program; redesignating the Alaska higher education                                                             
     investment fund as the Alaska education innovation grant fund;                                                             
     and providing for an effective date."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Education and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                               COMMUNICATIONS                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Letters of disclosure received from the Select Committee on                                                                     
Legislative Ethics, as required by AS 24.60, were published in House                                                            
Journal Supplement No. 5 and Senate and House Joint Journal                                                                     
Supplement No. 9.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                       REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HB 197                                                                                                                        
The Resources Committee considered:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     HOUSE BILL NO. 197                                                                                                         
     "An Act relating to the duties of the commissioner of natural                                                              
     resources; relating to agriculture; and relating to community seed                                                         
     libraries."                                                                                                                

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and recommends it be replaced with:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 197(RES)                                                                                             
     "An Act relating to the duties of the commissioner of natural                                                              
     resources; relating to agriculture; and relating to the personal                                                           
     noncommercial transfer of seed and to community seed libraries."                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representatives Josephson and Tarr, Co-                                                                
chairs, with the following individual recommendations:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Do pass (6):  Birch, Talerico, Westlake, Johnson, Rauscher, Tarr                                                                
                                                                                                                                
No recommendation (3):  Parish, Drummond, Josephson                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 197(RES):                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1.  Zero, Dept. of Natural Resources                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HB 197 was referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SCR 2                                                                                                                         
The Rules Committee considered:                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2                                                                                         
         Proclaiming April 2017 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
and recommends it be replaced with:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     HOUSE CS FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.                                                                              
     2(2d RLS)                                                                                                                  
     Proclaiming April 2018 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month;                                                                  
     proclaiming April 2018 as Child Abuse Prevention Month; and                                                                
     proclaiming April 6, 2018, as Go Blue Friday.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representative LeDoux, Chair, with the                                                                 
following individual recommendations:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Do pass (4):  Eastman, Chenault, Reinbold, LeDoux                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Do not pass (2):  Kito, Claman                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
No recommendation (1):  Stutes                                                                                                  

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The following fiscal note(s) apply to HCS SCR 2(2d RLS):                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1.  Zero, Legislative Agency                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SCR 2 was returned to the Rules Committee for placement on the                                                                  
calendar.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                         INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The following citation was introduced and taken up later as a Special                                                           
Order of Business:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Alaska Youth Orchestras 50th Anniversary                                                                             
By Representatives Tuck, Claman                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules                                                               
Committee for placement on the calendar:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Jim Duncan                                                                                                           
By Representative Tuck                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Mike Hodsdon                                                                                                         
By Representative Tuck                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Victoria Erickson                                                                                                    
By Senator Olson; Representative Foster                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Paul Costello                                                                                                     
By Representatives Kawasaki, Guttenberg                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Reverend Jesse Wilson, Jr.                                                                                        
By Representative Tuck                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                 INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE                                                                  
                               OF HOUSE BILLS                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HB 241                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 241 by Representative Johnson, entitled:                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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     "An Act relating to the per diem of members of the legislature;                                                            
     and providing for an effective date."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance                                                           
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HB 242                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 242 by Representative Gara, entitled:                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing landing fees for the Deadhorse Airport;                                                               
     establishing an oil and gas company contribution toll for use of                                                           
     the James Dalton Highway by certain vehicles; and providing for                                                            
     an effective date."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Transportation and Finance                                                          
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HB 243                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 243 by Representatives Eastman, Wilson, Johnson,                                                                 
Reinbold, and Millett, entitled:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act requiring an advisory vote on the enactment of an                                                                  
     individual income tax."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs, Judiciary, and                                                       
Finance Committees.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                    CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                       SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
HB 208                                                                                                                        
The following was read the second time:                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     HOUSE BILL NO. 208                                                                                                         
     "An Act relating to trusts and powers of appointment; and                                                                  
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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with the:                                                      Journal Page                                                     
                                                                                                                                
 JUD RPT 2DP 5NR                                                       1111                                                     
 FN1: ZERO(LAW)                                                        1112                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that                                                                      
HB 208 be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and                                                                  
placed on final passage.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There was objection.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HB 208 will advance to third reading on the May 5 calendar.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                           LEGISLATIVE CITATIONS                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                  
House approve the citation on the calendar.  There being no objection,                                                          
the following citation was approved and sent to enrolling:                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Moses Patrick Paukan, Sr.                                                                                         
By Senator Olson; Representatives Foster, Edgmon, Birch, Chenault,                                                              
Claman, Drummond, Eastman, Fansler, Gara, Grenn, Guttenberg,                                                                    
Johnson, Johnston, Josephson, Kawasaki, Kito, Kopp, Kreiss-                                                                     
Tomkins, LeDoux, Millett, Neuman, Ortiz, Parish, Pruitt, Rauscher,                                                              
Reinbold, Saddler, Seaton, Spohnholz, Stutes, Sullivan-Leonard,                                                                 
Talerico, Tarr, Thompson, Tilton, Tuck, Westlake, Wilson, Wool                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
**The presence of Representative Pruitt was noted.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                             SENSE OF THE HOUSE                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The following Sense of the House was offered by Representatives                                                                 
Eastman, Wilson, Sullivan-Leonard, Rauscher, Reinbold, Tilton,                                                                  
Saddler, Millett, Johnston, Kopp, Chenault, Johnson, and Talerico:                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                            "VETERANS CHOICE 2.0                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
It is the sense of the House that the recent extension of the Veteran's                                                         
Choice Program, approved by Congress and now signed by the President,                                                           
is a small but important step to ensuring that our veterans receive the                                                         

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timely access to healthcare that they have been promised. While designed                                                        
to improve access to care, and permit veterans on waiting lists for longer                                                      
than 30 days and who have to travel more than 40 miles, to pursue care at                                                       
non-VA facilities, the program was previously mired in red tape and has                                                         
not always delivered care to veterans in a timely manner, resulting in even                                                     
some veterans who were able to negotiate the red tape and receive                                                               
approval under the Choice Program to abandon that approval and pursue                                                           
other options for care. The current effort by VA Secretary Shulkin to                                                           
reduce red tape and make the VA more responsive to veterans' needs,                                                             
Veterans Choice 2.0, is a step in the right direction, especially efforts to                                                    
reduce the high rate of suicide among our nation's military veterans."                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Eastman moved that the Sense of the House be                                                                     
adopted.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There was objection.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The Speaker referred the Sense of the House to the House Special                                                                
Committee on Military & Veterans' Affairs.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                            UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                  
following members be excused from a call of the House.  There being                                                             
no objection, the members were excused as noted:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Chenault - from 1:00 p.m., May 4 to 8:00 a.m., May 8                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Claman - from 6:30 p.m., May 4 to 10:30 a.m., May 6                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Grenn - from 7:00 a.m., May 5 to 10:00 p.m., May 7                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Guttenberg - from 11:00 a.m., May 6 to 3:00 p.m.,                                                                
May 10                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Johnston - from 12:30 p.m., May 5 to 10:00 a.m.,                                                                 
May 8                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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Representative Josephson - from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., May 4; and                                                              
from 7:00 p.m., May 5 to 7:00 p.m., May 7                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kopp - from 7:00 p.m., May 4 to 10:00 a.m., May 8                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Reinbold - from 7:00 a.m., May 4 to 10:00 p.m.,                                                                  
May 7                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tilton - from 7:00 p.m., today to 9:45 p.m., May 4                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                         SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                  
notice and publication requirements be waived and the citation,                                                                 
Honoring - Alaska Youth Orchestras 50th Anniversary, be taken up as                                                             
a Special Order of Business.  There being no objection, it was so                                                               
ordered.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                  
House approve the citation.  There being no objection, the following                                                            
citation was approved and sent to enrolling:                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Alaska Youth Orchestras 50th Anniversary                                                                             
By Representatives Tuck, Claman, Edgmon, Birch, Chenault,                                                                       
Drummond, Eastman, Fansler, Foster, Gara, Grenn, Guttenberg,                                                                    
Johnson, Johnston, Josephson, Kawasaki, Kito, Kopp, Kreiss-                                                                     
Tomkins, LeDoux, Millett, Neuman, Ortiz, Parish, Pruitt, Rauscher,                                                              
Reinbold, Saddler, Seaton, Spohnholz, Stutes, Talerico, Tarr,                                                                   
Thompson, Tilton, Westlake, Wilson, Wool                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                            UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
HB 184                                                                                                                        
Representative Kito added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     HOUSE BILL NO. 184                                                                                                         
     "An Act adding to the powers and duties of the State Commission                                                            
     for Human Rights; and relating to and prohibiting discrimination                                                           
       based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression."                                                          
                                                                                                                                

2017-05-03                     House Journal                      Page 1312
HB 200                                                                                                                        
Representative Wool added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     HOUSE BILL NO. 200                                                                                                         
     "An Act establishing a top two nonpartisan open primary election                                                           
     system for elective state executive and state and national                                                                 
     legislative offices; repealing the special runoff election for the                                                         
     office of United States senator or United States representative;                                                           
     changing appointment procedures relating to precinct watchers                                                              
     and members of precinct election boards, election district absentee                                                        
     and questioned ballot counting boards, and the Alaska Public                                                               
     Offices Commission; requiring certain written notices to appear in                                                         
     election pamphlets and polling places; relating to declarations of                                                         
     candidacy and letters of intent; and amending the definition of                                                            
     'political party.'"                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB 6                                                                                                                          
Representatives Thompson and Grenn added as cross sponsors to:                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 6(JUD)                                                                                              
     "An Act relating to the regulation and production of industrial                                                            
     hemp; relating to industrial hemp pilot programs; providing that                                                           
     industrial hemp is not included in the definition of 'marijuana'; and                                                      
     clarifying that adding industrial hemp to food does not create an                                                          
     adulterated food product."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                               ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
House committee schedules are published under separate cover.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                ADJOURNMENT                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                  
House adjourn until 10:30 a.m., May 5.  There being no objection, the                                                           
House adjourned at 11:46 a.m.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                              Crystaline Jones                                                                  
                                              Chief Clerk